Penn State outside linebacker Paul Posluszny has been recognized for his superb efforts at Indiana on Saturday with his selection as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

The conference honor is his first and the first for a Penn State defensive player since safety Shawn Mayer was so honored against Ohio State in 2002. Posluszny is the first Nittany Lion linebacker to earn the league honor since LaVar Arrington, was recognized for the Purdue game in 1999.

A sophomore, Posluszny has led the nationally-ranked Penn State defense all season and was all over the field making plays in the Nittany Lions' 22-18 win at Indiana.

Posluszny made a career-high 13 tackles, 11 solo, against the Hoosiers for his fifth double figure tackle game of the season. He also recorded two tackles for minus-12 yards, including a sack, and broke-up a pass. On Penn State's dramatic goal line stand in the last two minutes, Posluszny made the initial hit on second and fourth down to deny the Hoosiers, who had first and goal from the PSU one-yard-line, but were stopped short.

For the season, Posluszny leads Penn State and is seventh in the Big Ten with 89 tackles, 46 solo. The former Hopewell High School standout is tied for the team lead with three sacks and has 10 TFL for minus-41 yards to rank second on the team. He also has forced one fumble and has three pass break-ups. Posluszny has led or tied for the team lead in tackles six times this season.

Penn State Nittany Lion basketball player Geary Claxton was named the season's first Big Ten Basketball Player of the Week for games played Nov. 8-14. Claxton earned the honor after a solid collegiate debut in Penn State's season-opening game vs. Illinois State on Sunday.

Claxton led Penn State in scoring with 16 points, hitting five of nine field goals and six of eight free throws. The 6-5 wing from Connecticut was also second on the squad with nine rebounds.

Claxton becomes the third Nittany Lion in head coach Ed DeChellis' tenure at Penn State to win a Big Ten